THE FAT-LAMB. PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1442, 17 May 1912, Page 10

THE FAT-LAMB. PROBLEM.

BREEDING FOR THE EXPORT ' ■'•;_., T-RADE. '-For 'generations, breeders of pedigree sheep have vied with each other.in producing animals of. fixed. type and high standard, and present-day, breeders are ever readv to laud the predominant qualities of the breed they favour. In endeavouring to arrive at an impartial estimate of the value of the various breeds it is alwavs necessary (says Mr. T. W. Lonsdale, writing in the Agricultural Department's Journal) to consider the peculiarities ot climate, soil,, and environment. While-this-applies with special-'force in developing a'.Hock of .purebred sheep; it .holds'igood, iri-ii minor degree, in-deter-mining -which breed will give the best fat iamb sire. There are other factors, of course, to be taken into account in this latter connection. The nature -of the country and the feed available are of first importance....lt" ii'nccessary,.. for,; instance,, if iluch.a breed as a'.Squthdmyii is- to ,sho\v tb'"advantage that thVorossbred laugwool "eive3 ,'as Well as the Sontli'(l6wri''fam be of decent quality and that they should' all -have been done well. It is only then that a high percentage of lambs will bo got away fat'off the mother and the whole of the progeny will be fit for export, either as lambs or hoggets. In further elucidation of the fat lamb problem a series ..of tests are being conducted at.. Mouinahaki Experimental FarhV. The experience of this season is ■instructive; but cannot; of course, be re-, ga'rded. as .conclusi.vc. \ . - ~ '~Tlie,„ewes,.cliosen were*aged, sheep .shoeing a- decided'..,■ Re-inney-Lincoln .cross. These -we're, mated on February 28, 1911, wrth-'.Soiithdowni. Border Leicester, and 'Dorset Horn ■ rams, two tarns of each breed being allowed to a hundred ewes. The percentage of lambs to each breed of rams w:as' approximately equal, though during the early part, of the lambilig season the' Southdown cross lambs predominated. There was, however, no difference with regard t? fattening,' about equal quantities of lambs by-each breed of rams being drafted for export on three cccas'fpiis:''.'"''":"-

■-In order to compare the produce of the 'different rams the lambs were weighed prior to leaving the farm, a draft of 110 of equal quantities by each lot of the r.a,ms. ,'lt was found that lambs by Dorset tlq'rn. rams averaged 0,291b. each heavier thaii !the Southdown crossed lambs, and 1:181b'. heavier than the Border Leicester cross- lambs. The l dressed weights as obtained' from the-freezing company were decidedly in favour of the-Southdown cross, the lambs-of which dressed 1.91b. heavier than the Dorset Horn cross and 2.3 lb. each heavier than those of the Border Leicester cross... Though the Southdown has proved its superiority in these trials if. is.not advisable to..rely entirely, on this breed, for unless lambs of thi= cross are disposed of early they little value as' stores.. '■'. .'•'.' '.' " .' • '..'.'